Jenny Kelly Productions - For the love of opera!

History
Giorgio Lalov, Artistic Director

Teatro Lirico D’Europa was created in 1988 by the late Yves Josse, a former ballet divo and brilliant French arts promoter, and Giorgio Lalov, a young Bulgarian opera singer who made his debut at Teatro alla Scala, Milan, at the age of 25 while participating in Scala’s famous international training program for young singers. The collaboration between Josse and Lalov was a huge success in a very short time, resulting in tours with over 250 performances a season throughout France, Belgium, Switzerland, Germany, the Netherland, Spain and Portugal. Lalov created the sets and costumes for the productions and organized the chorus and orchestra in Bulgaria. He drew soloists for the productions from a huge reservoir of operatic talent in Bulgaria, central Europe and the USA. Josse booked the performances for the company from his office in Paris. From the very beginning, the company established itself as highly competent in delivering traditional, full-scale productions featuring a large orchestra and chorus, and mature opera singers. The unusual chemistry of the company proved to be very popular with European audiences. Teatro Lirico D’Europa had completed over 2000 performances worldwide at the time of Josse’s passing in 1995. The death of Josse was a great loss. He was a gifted person who could never be replaced. His talent could never be duplicated. But 1995 marked a new beginning for Teatro Lirico D’Europa with the birth of Lalov’s American son Christian. Lalov shifted his focus from touring in Europe, to touring in the USA where he now lives with his wife, former opera singer and creator of International Classic Artists Mgmt., (now JENNY KELLY PRODUCTIONS) - Jenny L. Kelly.

Teatro Lirico D'Europa had developed a firm history of success with a portfolio of hundreds of rave reviews for full scale opera productions that had been presented all over Europe, in theaters and at important international festivals, as well as a collection of outstanding live CD recordings. Lalov's wife, Jenny Kelly, organized the materials and began to make offers to theaters in the US. By winter 2000, she had booked the first major American tour for the company. The response to the debut tour from both press and theaters was very positive indeed. The February 2002 issue of OPERA NEWS contains a 4-page article on Teatro Lirico D'Europa written by BOSTON GLOBE opera critic Richard Dyer:

"In the past couple of years the company has presented TURANDOT, AIDA and NABUCCO in Boston. The physical productions and Lalov's stagings were reassuringly traditional. Lalov's stagings tell the story clearly. The solo and ensemble singing in all three operas was lusty, whole hearted-full throated and honest. Something personal and passionate that is often missing from evenings of opera."
OPERA NEWS - Richard Dyer – Feb. 2002

Teatro Lirico D'Europa embarks on its 8th consecutive season of US tours in Fall 2007 - Winter/Spring 2008 with over 80 performances of FIVE different full-scale operas including a co production of Lehar’s MERRY WIDOW with Czech Opera Prague featuring both Czech and American soloists! The company has never canceled a US tour or any performance on a US tour in its entire American touring history.

About GIORGIO LALOV
Co Founder of Teatro Lirico D'Europa and current General Manager/Artistic Director

Gueorgui Lalov (Giorgio) was born in Telesh, Bulgaria, in 1958. His father Lalo, a doctor, and his mother, Stoyanka Kostadinova, an elementary school teacher and Bulgarian folk singer, were educated patrons of the arts. Although his father died when he was just 9 years old, Giorgio was accepted at an elite boarding school in the capital city of Bulgaria, where all the lessons were taught in French. When he graduated from high school in 1976 he was fluent in French and English. That fall he entered the Bulgarian National Academy of Music and went on tour in Italy with a choir from the University. While in Milan, he auditioned for and was accepted at the International School for Young Opera Singers at La Scala where he went on to make his debut at the age of 25. After living in Italy for a short time, Lalov, became fluent in Italian. In 1986, while on tour with a small opera company in France, he met his future business partner, Yves Josse, a former ballet divo who was booking opera and ballet tours. Giorgio had many resources. He spoke several languages, could organize the creation of sets and costumes in Bulgaria and could put together an excellent orchestra and chorus. He knew many fine opera singers in Bulgaria, central Europe, and the USA. By 1988 Josse and Lalov were collaborating on what was to become the most successful opera touring company in Europe. At the time of Josse's death in 1995, Teatro Lirico was performing over 250 shows a season throughout eight different countries in central Europe. Winter 2000 marked Teatro Lirico’s first major American tour. The rest is history. The reviews from the American tours completed thus far speak for the quality and consistency of the company.

"I'm not alone in hoping that Giorgio Lalov, the talented singer turned creator of Teatro Lirico D'Europa stays well, healthy and continues to bring us such magnificent productions. We can only hope to see more from this company in years to come." ILLINOIS TIMES - Ann Kerr

HISTORY | REVIEWS | MEDIA GALLERY

"The solo and ensemble singing in all three operas was lusty, whole hearted-full throated and honest. Something personal and passionate that is often missing from evenings of opera."
OPERA NEWS - Richard Dyer - February 2002